Privateer Days

Privateer Days was an annual heritage festival in Liverpool, on Nova Scotia's South Shore, and a designated Nova Scotia Signature Festival. For three days each June, the town stepped back to the 1780s — when Liverpool was a notorious privateer port — for living history, music, and family fun organized by the Privateer Days Commission. The 2026 edition ran June 26–28.

Festival highlights included 18th-century battle re-enactments and a historic military encampment, the Rum Run, live music on the main stage, an artisan and crafter's market, a grand parade, and a fireworks display. There was also a children's area and activities, plus special events like a colonial wedding and vow-renewal celebration.

Liverpool sits about 90 minutes from Halifax along the Lighthouse Route, making Privateer Days an easy anchor for a South Shore summer road trip that can take in Peggy's Cove, Mahone Bay, and Lunenburg. Most of the outdoor programming along the Liverpool waterfront was free to attend at the 2026 festival.

Make the most of your time in South Shore - pair Privateer Days with our South Shore guide, Family Travel Guide, and Lunenburg UNESCO guide. They're each packed with itinerary ideas, local tips, and everything you need to extend your stay.